The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will be responsible for the day-to-day operations lead on the project and provide overall technical and programmatic support to the program, supervise operations and finance personnel, primary responsibility for compliance with USAID and FHI 360 Rules & Regulations, while ensuring high-quality service delivery, outreach and staff capacity building. Under Chief of Party’s (COP) strategic direction, foster cross-fertilization between technical teams and project outreach personnel, and ensure program delivery of expected outcomes and milestones. The DCOP supports COP and partners as necessary to cultivate relationships with the government counterparts to advance program objectives ensure smooth implementation of program activities. This position will be based in Niger or Burkina Faso and is contingent upon receipt of award, funder approval of key personnel and project implementation criteria.
- Plan, direct and coordinate technical and operational activities to ensure that goals and objectives are accomplished within prescribed time frame and funding parameters.
- Establish work plans and project teams to meet project goals and ensure compliance with policies.
- Provide guidance and training to managers and staff to achieve project goals.
- Establish, serve and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders on project matters.
- Oversee financial and technical reporting to USAID.
- Work with subcontractors to integrate contributions into program activities.
- Work with the FHI 360 home office to recruit and field short-term technical assistance as needed.
- Present program results to USAID and other professional colleagues, both regionally and internationally.
- Responsible for induction of project staff, ensuring their familiarity with mandate values, quality standards, policies and project objectives, and their individual responsibilities in upholding these standards and policies.
- Troubleshoot to prevent and resolve potential problems and review outputs for quality control.
- Direct all aspects of the start-up and implementation of the program in the field.
- Provide overall project management and guidance to team members and consultants.
- Supervise the work of field staff to ensure completion of contract deliverables, including scheduled reports.
- Serve as point person for FHI 360 with local communities, district government officials and local USAID representatives.
- Communicate with technical and administrative personnel from the FHI 360 home office.
- Motivate, influence and collaborate with others employing well-honed negotiation skills.
- Deliver excellent client satisfaction based on outcomes and accomplishments.
- At least 10 years of proven success managing complex development programs that include multi-disciplinary programming, preferably in the West Africa context, and on USAID funded projects of similar size. Proven abilities to set priorities, to multi-task and to work collaboratively across technical disciplines.
- Experience in projects of similar or related nature, size and complexity, with national or local governments, NGOs or donors. Preference given to a candidate who has demonstrated experience working resilience sector and in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and/or knowledge management (KM).
- Demonstrated experience in managing trainings and events for a large array of stakeholders.
- Proven ability to manage teams with different cultural backgrounds.
- Required to have strong oral and written communication and presentation skills in French.
- Past work experience in West Africa (preferably Niger and Burkina Faso).